Effects of specific brain lesions on the thermal responses of rats to d-amphetamlne

Abstract

Lesions in either olfactory bulb or in area postrema modify the amphetamine-induced paradoxical thermoregulatory behavior, although these lesions in no way affect amphetamine-induced hypothermia. In addition, these lesions lead to complicated patterns of thermoregulatory behavior. These results can be best explained by assuming that lesions in one part of the brain monoamine system might affect levels and turnover of monoamines in remote parts of the brain. Among d-amphetamine behavioral effects which are known to be mediated by central dopaminergic neurons are hypothermia in animals placed in a cold environment, and paradoxical thermoregulatory behavior (this involves the movement of animals away from the heating source despite hypothermia). This latter effect requires intact alpha norepi- nephrine receptors. It seems that neither type of lesion affected dopaminergic neuronal activity in the brain. However, norepinephrine activity in the brain was affected by the area postrema lesion as well as by the olfactory bulb removal.